In a shocking incident from Navi Mumbai, a physical training instructor at a private school has been taken into custody by the police. The 32-year-old teacher stands accused of sexually harassing and stalking a 13-year-old girl who is a student at the same institution.
Details of the Alleged Harassment
According to the investigation officer, Police Sub-Inspector Krushna Kute of Sanpada police station, the alleged crime took place on December 4. The victim, a minor girl, had arrived at her school in Sanpada early, around 6:45 AM, before regular school hours. She was alone in her classroom when the accused teacher, a resident of Nerul, entered.
PSI Kute stated that the teacher took advantage of the girl's solitude. He allegedly forcibly kissed her and then threatened her to stay silent about his actions. Terrified by the threat, the young girl did not initially disclose the traumatic event to her parents.
Previous Misconduct and Stalking Allegations
The complaint filed by the girl's parents reveals a pattern of concerning behavior by the teacher. Earlier, in August, the same teacher had reportedly assaulted a 13-year-old boy, who is a classmate of the victim. The assault was allegedly because the boy failed to convey the teacher's message to the girl, stating that he liked her.
Following this earlier incident, the boy's parents complained to the school principal, which led to the teacher's temporary suspension. However, he was later reinstated. The parents' complaint further alleges that after the December 4 incident, the accused continued to stalk the girl when she was on her way home from school.
Legal Action and Arrest
The case came to light when another girl in the victim's class learned about the incident. This student informed her brother, who then alerted the victim's parents. Subsequently, the parents filed a formal First Information Report (FIR) at the Sanpada police station on Monday.
The police acted swiftly and arrested the accused teacher. He has been charged under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The arrested individual was presented before the Belapur court on Tuesday. The court has remanded him to police custody for one day for further investigation.
This case has raised serious concerns about student safety within educational institutions and the protocols for handling complaints against staff members.
